Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

un|par|don|able /ʌnpɑː ^r dənəb ^ə l/ ADJ If you say that someone's behaviour is unpardonable , you mean that it is very wrong or offensive, and completely unacceptable. □  …an unpardonable lack of discipline. □  I must ask a question you may find unpardonable.

un|pick /ʌ np I k/ (unpicks , unpicking , unpicked )

1 VERB If you unpick a piece of sewing, you remove the stitches from it. □ [V n] You can always unpick the hems on the dungarees if you don't like them.

2 VERB If someone unpicks a plan or policy, they disagree with it and examine it thoroughly in order to find any mistakes that they can use to defeat it. [BRIT ] □ [V n] A statesman wants to unpick last year's reform of Europe's common agricultural policy.

un|play|able /ʌ nple I əb ^ə l/ ADJ In some sports, if you describe a player as unplayable , you mean that they are playing extremely well and are difficult to beat. If you describe a ball as unplayable , you mean that it is difficult to hit. [BRIT ]

un|pleas|ant /ʌnple z ^ə nt/

1 ADJ If something is unpleasant , it gives you bad feelings, for example by making you feel upset or uncomfortable. □  The symptoms can be uncomfortable, unpleasant and serious. □  The vacuum has an unpleasant smell. □  It was a very unpleasant and frightening attack. ●  un|pleas|ant|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □  The water moved darkly around the body, unpleasantly thick and brown. □  The smell was unpleasantly strong. □  My heart was hammering unpleasantly.

2 ADJ An unpleasant person is very unfriendly and rude. □  She thought him an unpleasant man. □  Don't start giving me problems otherwise I'll have to be very unpleasant indeed. □  …a thoroughly unpleasant person. ●  un|pleas|ant|ly ADV □  Melissa laughed unpleasantly. □  The Heidlers are an unpleasantly hypocritical pair. ●  un|pleas|ant|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  There had to be a reason for the unpleasantness some people habitually displayed.

un|plug /ʌ nplʌ g/ (unplugs , unplugging , unplugged ) VERB If you unplug an electrical device or phone, you pull a wire out of a socket so that it stops working. □ [V n] I had to unplug the phone.

un|plugged /ʌ nplʌ gd/ ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n] If a pop group or musician performs unplugged , they perform without any electric instruments. [JOURNALISM ] □  Do you remember when everyone went unplugged and acoustic?

un|pol|lut|ed /ʌ npəluː t I d/ ADJ Something that is unpolluted is free from pollution.

un|popu|lar /ʌ npɒ pjʊlə ^r / ADJ If something or someone is unpopular , most people do not like them. □  It was a painful and unpopular decision. □  In high school, I was very unpopular, and I did encounter a little prejudice. □ [+ with ] The Chancellor is deeply unpopular with voters. ●  un|popu|lar|ity /ʌ npɒpjʊlæ r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] □ [+ among ] …his unpopularity among his colleagues.

un|prec|edent|ed /ʌnpre s I dent I d/

1 ADJ If something is unprecedented , it has never happened before. □  Such a move is rare, but not unprecedented. □  In 1987 the Socialists took the unprecedented step of appointing a civilian to command the force.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as unprecedented , you are emphasizing that it is very great in quality, amount, or scale. [EMPHASIS ] □  Each home boasts an unprecedented level of quality throughout. □  The scheme has been hailed as an unprecedented success.